DPS, Patna, student Amisha Gupta is looking forward to Durga Puja and some fun in the mountains.

The Class XI student has six days off during the festival, and her family has planned a trip to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. This won’t be the first time she will see the Himalayan country.

“I have visited Kathmandu a number of times, but this trip would be enjoyable. We would be staying in a five-star hotel, which has a casino. That means I will have double the fun with my family, especially with my sister Ayushi and cousins, Ashish and Arindam. They will make this trip special. I remember last year’s trip to Kathmandu when they had accompanied me and all of us had a great time. Now, that they will be going again, one can imagine how much fun we will have,” said Amisha.

Her school would be closed for six days, from October 11-16.

Most schools in Patna, including St Joseph’s Convent and St Michael’s High School, are closed on these days. Notre Dame Academy, Don Bosco Academy and Patna Central School are closed from October 10-16. St Dominic Savio’s High School is closed between October 8 and 16, Jesus and Mary Academy, Patna City, from October 9 to 16 and International School (CBSE and ICSE wings) from October 11-17.

Excited about her trip, Amisha said: “I am waiting to get on the ropeway, which takes tourists to the Manakamana Temple.” Tourists and devotees can take the ropeway to the temple in Nepal’s Gorkha district and reach in around 10 minutes.

The 16-year-old is looking forward to the shopping waiting for her in Kathmandu.

Among the other students planning a trip in the short Durga Puja holiday is Tashi Goenka, a Class XI student of DPS, Patna. She is going to Rajasthan and Agra.

Tashi said: “For me, Taj Mahal will be the main attraction since I have never been there. I have visited Jaipur earlier but I have not seen the forts. Those would be my attraction in the Pink City.”

The youths staying back in Patna are not too sad, as they have attractions back home too.

Alankriti Jain is waiting for her elder sister Aditi Jain, who is in Delhi, to come home. Aditi left Patna this year to study at Hindu College. Alankriti, a Class VII student of St Joseph’s Convent High School, said: “I am waiting for my Didi. I miss her a lot.”

Kajal Fitkiriwala, a Class XII student of Radiant International School, will work. She is one of the finalists in the south Asian finals of Horlicks Wizkids, 2013, to be organised in Bangalore in November. She has decided to work on her project during the six days of Durga Puja vacation.

Kajal said: “My vacation will be spent in making the project. I am looking forward to the Bangalore event. I want to do my best.”